Work on Doncaster estate facing demolition to make way for HS2 line will be completed

Work to finish partially built houses on a Doncaster housing estate that could be demolished to make way for a new HS2 route will be completed, it was announced today.

A report from Sir David Higgins was published last month, recommending that the HS2 line should be re-routed through Doncaster, leading to the potential demolition of 200 houses on the Shimmer Estate in Mexborough.

After the announcement, residents at the development were given letters informing them that their land ‘may need to be purchased’ by the Government.

Developers Strata had not completed work on the estate at the time of the announcement with 15 properties left partially finished.

Chief Executive of Strata, Andrew Weaver, has now confirmed that work will begin next month to complete the development

He said: “We can confirm that as a result of our third meeting with the Department for Transport and HS2 it has been agreed that we will continue our work on site at the Shimmer development.

“We will commence works in September and will complete 15 homes that are currently partially built.

“In addition, we will complete the roads and public spaces that were planned and anticipate that these will be finished as per the original project timescales.

“We are still awaiting a decision on those properties that were planned, yet build has not been started.

“This has been a very challenging and unpredictable time. Our customers are and will continue to be our main priority. At Strata we build more than houses, we create communities and that philosophy has not wavered. We thank all of our customers for their patience over recent weeks.

“We will continue to share updates as we are in a position to do so.”

The new report, which contains the details of the new route, is set to go before the Government this Autumn.

Around 200 houses on the estate could be demolished if the plans are given the go-ahead.